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• Cold Bowls and Cider

The Abbey Cafe is very close to my work, so I pop in to grab coffee quite a lot. Their coffee is pretty good- they use locally roasted beans, and can make a few speciality drinks. They don't, however, have ice. Yeah, really. No ice in the place, so they can't make you a chilled coffee drink. I imagine they'll probably rethink this choice, because Fredericton is a pretty hot little town, and iced coffee is delicious. Another thing they don't have? WIFI! At a cafe... not ideal. What if I want to linger and sip? The decor at the Abbey is beautiful- they have a sort of arty-shabby-chic decor with wooden furniture and handmade light fixtures. There's also local artwork available for purchase on the walls. If you're bringing anybody elderly or with mobility problems, the seating can be limited with only about 6-8 available tables in the upstairs portion of the place. If you can go down the steep stairs- there's more seating down there. The food at The Abbey is hit or miss, for me. Every time I go in, I find that my meal is completely different from the last time I ordered it. This may just be due to the fact that it's a fairly new place- but it can be frustrating for me when I had extra salsa last time, and nearly none this time. Baked goods at The Abbey are vegan and there are a few gluten-free options. The brownie is a must-try (the square one, not the muffin-looking one), but I probably wouldn't order their coconut-date energy balls again. Sometimes the rice is under cooked, and if you order a salad, get the dressing on the side because they're pretty generous and it can ruin the taste of the veggies. The staff are hit or miss, as well. I think they're well-meaning and helpful if you catch them on a good day, but sometimes they're a bit snippy and impatient when you've got questions about ingredients (as so many Vegan/Veg patrons will). Negatives aside- They Abbey does have a good amount of Vegan and Vegetarian options. In fact, every dish on their menu can be made to cater to a vegan or vegetarian palate. They also offer gluten free- which can be a struggle for many people. I ALMOST FORGOT- the Cider! Red Rover Cider is also housed in this location. If you like Cider- this is definitely a selling feature. You can fill your growler/flagon, or sit and sip while you eat. GREAT cider, and very helpful staff at the Red Rover counter. Definitely TRY the Abbey.